once in a lifetime…

His eyes were as black as obsidian, resembling black angry slits when facing me, nestled deep within his head. The head was flat and shaped like a diamondback rattlesnake, with nostrils and a large flat mouth. A forked tongue flicked in and out, looking for its next prey. His body was covered in wart-like reptilian scales, mesmerizing to observe with its intricate orange and black geometric patterns. The body was long and fat, like a dragon, and the tail swung from side to side as this fat phenomenon waddled quickly to me. Four squat legs with long frog-like toes made this beast look like a drunk waddling down a back alley late at night. It was coming closer to me, and I was frozen, dead in my tracks, with a silent fascination. This creature was surreal in its comical behavior yet frightening appearance. What was this monster, this BEAST? My friend Patti caught up with me on the trail and said, “Oh, look, it’s a Gila monster!”

Fun facts about Gila monsters:

• native to southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico

• venomous lizard

• have enlarged, grooved teeth in lower jaw

• escape the heat in burrows or under rocks/bushes

• 18-22.5 inches long, 3-5 lbs

• creates tunnels to survive the hot summer months and easily climbs trees

• spend 3%-5% of their time above ground

• are carnivores

• can live 20-30 years

• 3-4 large meals sustains them for an entire year

After following the Gila monster around for about half an hour, squatting next to it to photograph its every move, its every angle, we had to say goodbye. I’ve returned to this site over 30 times in the past 11 years, and I cannot find it again.

It’s only once in a lifetime that you might meet a monster while hiking through the desert.